Fans are the unsung heroes of our gaming PCs, allowing us to explore our favourite worlds with ease, safe in the knowledge that our impressive hardware is being kept cool and quiet. That’s why it’s vital you ensure your PC features plenty of fans, including both standard and reverse blade fans.
Don’t know what reverse blade fans are or why they’re useful? We’ve broken down everything you need to know about reverse airflow fans in this guide.
Reverse Blade Fans Explained Key Takeaways
- Reverse blade fans are sometimes simply referred to as reverse fans.
- These fans are designed to move air in the opposite direction to standard fans. This allows you to show off the front-facing design of the unit while maintaining effective cooling.
- Ideal for aesthetic-focused builds, reverse fans often feature in PC cases with glass panels, as they keep RGB lighting and fan designs visible without ever compromising on the quality of airflow.
- Reverse fans can be used alongside standard fans to create an efficient cooling set-up with a clean, balanced appearance.
- While reverse fans offer greater flexibility and improved aesthetics, they can sometimes cost more and may have sightly inferior airflow or static pressure performance compared to traditional standard fans.
- For the most optimal cooling performance, always keep the wider context of your overall fan and airflow layout in mind, and position reverse fans where they can provide the best results to complement your PC build.
What Are Reverse Blade Fans?
Reverse fans have their blades angled to allow air to enter from the back of the fan and exit through the front. This differs from standard fans, where air enters through the front and exits from the rear.
You can mount a reverse blade fan anywhere you would a standard model, for either intake or exhaust. However, reverse blade fans will have the front of the fan visible, while still exhausting air through the back. This helps to create a more visually appealing aesthetic, as you don’t need to compromise between cooling performance and style.
Pros and Cons of Reverse Blade Fans
Pros
- Airflow – Reverse blade fans allow you to achieve great airflow, whether this is intake or exhaust, without compromise.
- Aesthetics – Let you display the ‘pretty’ side of the fan even though they are facing outward. Can still utilise features such as RGB lighting to illuminate the interior of your case.
Cons
- Typically More Expensive – Reverse blade fans can be more expensive than standard fans due to their specialised design.
- Potential Performance Trade-Off – Some reverse blade fans can offer slightly less airflow or static pressure in comparison to standard fans.
Why Are Reverse Fans Useful?
We’re not the first to admit that looks are just as important as performance when it comes to our gaming PCs. Reverse fans are useful for maintaining our aesthetic while still achieving optimum airflow.
Reverse blade fans allow you to still display the ‘front’ of the fan, the side that will typically feature a unique design or RGB lighting, no matter if you are using them for intake or exhaust. This means you don’t have to shy away from displaying your hardware with pride.
If you don’t want to have to compromise on what type of fans you use, you can use reverse blade and standard fans simultaneously. This will allow you to achieve the clean, sleek aesthetic you desire, without sacrificing airflow.
What’s more, thanks to reverse blade fans, you’ll have more flexibility in how you position your cooling. You can mount them on the bottom or side of your case to act as intake fans without worrying about hiding any stylish features. Perfect for use in ‘fish tank’ style cases such as the HYTE Y70.
Where Should I Mount My Reverse Fans?
You can mount reverse fans in any location that you would a standard RGB intake fan. Typically, these are the fans you instal on the bottom and the motherboard tray side (as seen in the image below from Corsair).
In this orientation, you can enjoy all the vibrant RGB lighting while maintaining incredible airflow and optimum cooling.
Level Up Your Cooling
Looking to boost your PC’s cooling with reverse blade fans? At Overclockers UK, we stock an extensive range of fans, and we’ve picked out our top three faves below. However, if these don’t suit your aesthetic or cooling demands, you can explore the full collection with the click of a button.
Aerocool Phantom M-3R Reverse Flow ARGB White LED Fan – 120mm
COO-AER-02801
£5.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
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CORSAIR LX120-R RGB 120mm PWM Reverse Fan – White
COO-CRS-03525
£34.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
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APNX FP1-RQ Performance Reverse Flow ARGB 120mm PWM Fan – Black
COO-APN-04028
£12.95 £ 4.99
-61.47%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETReverse Blade Fans FAQ
What is a reverse blade fan?
A reverse blade fan is a PC cooling fan with blades designed to move air in the opposite direction to a standard fan. This allows the fan to be mounted in a way that displays the front while still providing the desired airflow direction.
Are all reverse blade fans exhaust fans?
You can mount reverse blade fans in any position that you would a standard counterpart. As a result, these fans can oversee either intake or exhaust duties.
Is a reverse blade fan better than a standard fan?
Reverse blade fans don’t necessarily perform better than standard. However, they do offer more flexibility when assembling your PC build. There can sometimes be performance trade-offs, as reverse blade fans may have less airflow and static pressure compared to their standard counterparts. It all depends on the needs of your PC case and your own personal preferences.
Do I need both reverse and standard fans in my gaming PC?
You don’t need both reverse and standard fans in your gaming PC. A combination can help you create an effective airflow set-up and make the aesthetics of your build more appealing and consistent. For example, some PC builders use reverse fans for visible intake locations, while keeping aesthetics consistent and airflow moving in the right direction.
Are reverse blade fans worth it?
If you are building a computer and greatly value aesthetics, RGB visibility, and a clean-looking PC interior, reverse blade fans are well worth considering. They provide more freedom when creating your fan layouts. However, they do cost more than standard options, so that’s something to consider if you’re building on a budget.
Keepin’ It Cool
Do You Use Reverse Blade Fans?
Do you use reverse blade fans? Got a burning product rec to share? Leave it in the comments below.
- 6 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over four years and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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